Call the London Zoo phone number highlighted above for tickets, opening times, parking, directions, School bookings, education and for enquiries relating to Zoo adoption packages. The world's oldest scientific zoo, London Zoo was opened in London on 27 April 1828 originally intended as a collection for scientific study only. Opened to the public in 1847, today the zoo houses 755 species of animals and is one of the largest collections in the United Kingdom. Managed by the Zoological Society of London, the zoo is located on the edge Regent's Park. Back in the 1990's the Zoo had almost 7,000 animals double the next biggest collection at Chester Zoo, many of the species were extremely rare and could not be seen anywhere else, including species like the wombat, Tasmanian devil and long-nosed potoroo. The zoo suffered financial problems and was almost closed in the 1980's. However mass public support in terms of visitors, donations and the development of volunteer staff, allowed the Zoo to stay open.